Federal law enforcement officers are immune from lawsuits for mishandling, losing or even stealing
personal property that comes under their control in the course of their
official duties, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday in a 5-to-4 decision.

The
case was brought by a federal prison inmate, but the ruling was not
limited to the prison context. It was an interpretation of the Federal
Tort Claims Act, which applies to federal employees' liability for
damages and generally waives immunity from being sued.